A Very Target Christmas

I love Target . The store is clean. The people who work there are friendly and competent, and we have a relatively new store near us that's never very busy. It's like they opened it just for me. On my friend Anna Lisa's recommendation we sometimes hit the snack bar on the way in and pay one dollar for a bag of popcorn. Everyone's happy. Everyone's quiet. I can't get that for a buck in my own home. Retail heaven..... and the truth is I'm not even much of a shopper.

Mostly I just go there to find little bits of my own sanity to bring back home. I found lots of it today. First we went to Starbucks for a latte. Then, we stopped and visited with our Becky Bones at Salon Delange before we headed for Target. Today's list was a small one. We picked up what we came for and cruised around the seasonal isles checking out the latest for Christmas. Libby especially loved the snow globes and the houses that light up and have trains that move.

We checked out and left. On the way home I had two little sleepies in my backseat. I put on Christmas music and started to formulate a plan for what I'd do if both girls were asleep when I got home. Then, Libby says to me, "Mom, it's Christmas!" I replied, "It's getting close. Do you like the Christmas music?" and she says, "No Mom. It's Christmas at Target!"

Yep. Not the message I'd like her to be getting, but let's be honest, it's the message I'm sending. Things can sometimes get really mundane at home. Every morning coffee, breakfast, laundry, shower, blow dry my hair (which is, I think, the biggest waste of my time), lunch, naps etc. Sometimes Target is the place where I can interact with another adult. Today it was the girl at the snack bar. She has a three year old and an eight month old, and was dying to get off work so she could be home with them. Perfect. We connected.

We'll work on the Christmas message in the coming months. I suppose that means I need to stop telling Libby that Santa's watching every naughty thing she does. Otherwise, she'll probably hate him as much as she hates the idea of turning three.

Shane's with the girls doing pajamas and teeth and I suppose I should go help. We're going to put the girls to bed and then I need to devise a lesson plan for teaching Libby to be thankful. I've only got a day to make sure she is.....

Birthdays and Holidays and Football, Oh My!

We've had some really low key family days lately, and have been loving it. The girls have been healthy (knock on wood) and the Duck win last night was about all the excitement we could take. We're looking forward to the holidays, seeing friends and family and maybe hitting the slopes a little bit.

Libby chills in front of the t.v. one morning. She's likely watching one of three things: The Backyardigans, The Wonder Pets, or my new personal favorite, Olivia.

The girls have some snuggle time after reading books with Grandma Margie. Dad and Margie and the Dovers were here for the Arizona State game.
Libby loves herself some candy after a job well done on the potty.
Julane and Peyton ham it up together. Julane had her laughing so hard, Peyton was hysterical!




From pumpkins to ornaments..... Remember that fall recital Libby didn't dance in because she had a fever? Well, the costumes are the same, but the colors have changed. See how easily a pattern can be transformed? Let's hope she'll make the next recital....
Have slippers will travel.
Here's Libby at the latest birthday party for a friend in our Birth to Three group. Garrett turns three three days after Libby, and had his birthday party at the showroom for Rainbow play structures. Lots of things to climb on, and indoors... the best of both worlds.
Peyton was most interested in the bounce house, but had a hard time hangin' with the big boys.
Peyton displays her mood in the third quarter of last night's Duck game. I put her in some Duck gear hoping to turn the score around. It worked. You're welcome Ducks.... and Shad and Amber, thanks for the latest Duck wear!
We're looking forward to the holiday weekend, but first our baby turns three on Wednesday! We'll be celebrating by going to her three year check up (Libby doesn't know that yet), and taking away her binky. Okay, maybe we won't ruin her actual birthday by taking her bink away on Wednesday, but it's coming. Libby knows it too, so she tells us she's NOT turning three. I know it's the right thing to do, because I don't want to send her to kindergarten with a pacifier, but I know this isn't going to be easy. Wish us luck!

P.S. I've made it much easier to leave comments on our blog (I think). Tell me something!

Gettin' Out!

We've been healthy this week! We've gone a little stir crazy so on Tuesday we headed to Bend for a couple of days. I was so eager to get outta here, that I neglected to bring my chains and I don't have my snow tires on yet. Oops. The pass was a little messy today, but we took our time and made it home, no problem. The change of pace did us all some good.

Libby and I snuggled on the floor last week to watch the Duck game. Popcorn and football on a Fall Saturday. Wish the Ducks had won.

Peyton loves to put my hat on and then go around bumping into things. I don't know.
I came across this last week as Libby and I were looking at some old pictures together. I'd seen it before, but it's so different to see it now. I feel like Peyton is the exact replica of her daddy, in the female form. Here's what she should look like in a few years. :)
Snuggle time.
Rice Krispie Treats....
Look who's got some pride in her work.
A rainbow as we headed for Bend.
This is my mom's new dog Komen. She is all sweetness and love. Julane adopted her brother Oliver, and he's a lover too.
Since I'm looking back. I'm guessing circa 1978?
Heading to the Veteran's Day Parade.
Julane and the boys marched with their Boy Scout Troop.
Lunch after the parade at PBDI, our favorite!

Jamison's first basketball game! That's him with the ball.
Watching the game.

October Other

Halloween activities have really taken over our blog in recent posts. Here's a look at the other things we had going on in October.

A few weeks ago we headed to Stevenson, Washington for a friday night football game at Stevenson High School. At half time my grandpa, Marshall "Dutch" Shields, was inducted into Stevenson's Hall of Fame along with three of his brothers. My mom, Julane, Shane and I, and our girls accepted the award on their behalf. Football was HUGE among the Shields brothers, who all played at Stevenson and all went on to play for U of O. It was a fun night to be a part of .

We stopped at the fish ladder at Bonneville Dam to see the fish coming up the Columbia. Libby loved the sturgeon. She'd say, "look at that one. He's kinda cute." To each their own.....

A turbine that.... provides power? Anyway, it's HUGE.

Watching the fish come up the ladder.
Libby having a good time at our friends' Dave and Becky's house warming. We're so glad to have them living only a few miles away.
Learning. Or rather, doing EVERYTHING sister does....

Chicken noodle on a cold fall day. Does it get better?

Burning some enerygy outside while the weather is dry...

My friend Lynn to this picture of Peyton when we trick-or-treated at her house. I loved it, and had to include it.
On Sunday we went to a birthday party at Bounce Gymnastics for Libby's friend Emma. We met Emma and her family in Birth to Three when the girls were only months old. Since then, we've had lots of play dates and the girls had dance together this fall. Emma's party was Sunday, and on Monday they moved to New Jersey. We'll really miss them!


Peyton loves the triple swing. If she's not on it, she's crying and pointing to it. That is, until she gets another turn.
Goodbye Emma...We'll miss you so much! Libby did tell me tonight that she thinks "We should move to New Jersey sometime".
Peyton loves trying on shoes. She found these by the front door, and spent a lot of time trying to get into them. Finally, with Daddy's help.....

Look closely at Peyton's hands. This is her latest "I don't know" response.
Playtime!


Peyton does laps around the island. She's starting to run, but it's really just a speed walk with arms pumping.
This picture illustrates how we've all been feeling for going on three weeks now. First, we all had colds. The next week Libby had a fever. Then, I got another cold. Peyton had a fever. And now Libby has ear infections in both ears. We did manage to get the girls vaccinated for H1N1, but that was an all day event. Blech! I'm ready for summer!
Sneaking donut holes.